Rizzo aware of, not concerned about Marlins' moves

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

December 06, 2011, 1:02pm

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DALLAS - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is well aware of the splash the Miami Marlins have made in the past week, signing free agent closer Heath Bell and free agent shortstop Jose Reyes to big deals. And he's heard the whispers that the Marlins are trying to tempt one of the biggest free agents on the market, longtime Cardinal Albert Pujols, with a 10-year contract offer. But Rizzo isn't about to get carried away in another team's machinations, not when he's got his own targets in sight. "They had a good young core of players to begin with," Rizzo said. "They've gotten better, they've been aggressive. They've got a good intelligent front office there, but we have to stay on track (with) what we're going to do. We can't knee-jerk and react to what a team in our division is doing." Rizzo welcomes the Marlins' attempts to strengthen themselves and create a more competitive National League East. "It's a tough division, it really is, and it's getting tougher by the minute, it seems," he said. "We have to stay our course and be focused on what we need to do to improve. We can't be quote-unquote keeping up with the Joneses, if you will. We need to worry about our own business and improve ourself."